ConnectAndSell/Sales Acceleration – If I ever left ConnectAndSell, there is no way I could go back to manual dialing. Enabling my BEST reps to make 6-8X more calls/conversations vs. hiring brand new Lead Gen Reps who are less versed in business is a no brainer.

ZoomInfo/Lead Database – I used to recommend Jigsaw (now Data.com) until the SalesForce acquisition. Since then, data quality seems to have dropped off, and they have made a business decision to try to embed D&B in more deals making it much more expensive. ZoomInfo has more data, and more up to date data, and cost is reasonable.

*PAUSE* This is where I ran through all those “nice to have” tools and couldn’t immediately come up with another MUST HAVE’s! Certainly SalesLoft or Social123, or ToutApp/Yesware, or WebEx or Join.Me, or dozens more… The next day another colleague reminded me of Marketing Automation. Sure, I would agree, if there is a 5th, that’s probably it!

These are the Burmeister Top 5 for 2014. Until the new “Mapquest” comes along with another game changer, these are my five!

What would be your #5? Please post here – I’d love to see / hear about what’s making your inside sales team more productive in 2014!